Shock resistant container



Nov. 18, 1952 K, M, HARRISON 2,618,428

SHOCK RESISTANT CONTAINER Filed Jan. 27, 1947 Ja m [Ii 11701723 00 wwww Patented Nov. 18, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to containers and particularly to non-metallic containers of the type used for the packaging of liquids such as oils or foodstufi.

In the design of containers made of plastic, paper, or other non-metallic material, the principal problems presented are the maintenance of an adequate cost margin over metal containers together with the attainment of such objectives as mechanical strength, reliability in operation and adequate resistance against leakage of the liquid from the container. Toward the attainment of the foregoing objectives much effort has been expended and many forms of paper containers are now available in competition with metal containers of like capacity,

With the advent of new liquid-proof plastic materials, the problem of leakage from non-metallic containers has been, to a large extent, solved. However, the problem of mechanical strength has not been heretofore solved in any manner consistent with the exigencies of the commercial situation.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a non-metallic container for the shipment and storage of liquid materials which is characterized by a simple and inexpensive type of construction and by very great resistance to mechanical shock.

It is contemplated, according to this invention, to provide a non-metallic container having a simply constructed end structure which renders the container resistant to rupture incident to rough handling and which tremendously increases the bursting strength of the container as a whole.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of several embodiments thereof in conjunction with the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a tubular container constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention and embodying a novel end structure defining a shock absorbing zone at the ends of the storage space of the container;

Figure 2 is a detailed view similar to Figure 1 and illustrating a modified type of end structure with reference to but a single end of the container; and

Figure 3 is another view similar to Figure 2 but showing another modified type of construction.

Referring now in detail to Figure 1, the container there illustrated is comprised of a tubular body portion I which may be made of paper laminae, plastic, or other suitable material. Each end of the body portion It is closed by a cup-like member ll including a disc l2 and an integral, annular marginal flange 13. The dimensions of the cups II are so chosen with respect to the diameter of the body portion I0 that the cups may be inserted with "the flanges 13 facing toward the respective ends of the body portion and, in that position, the flanges bear against the inner walls of the body portion. The

,placed in the container. around the annular zone adjacent the plane of cups are held in position by spinning over the ends of the body portion as shown at M, the spun over portion gripping the ends of the annular flanges l3 and holding them tightly in the socket defined by the spun over portion.

During, or after, insertion of the cups ll, an adhesive may be employed to improve the frictional bond between the exterior surface of the flanges l3 and the interior surface of the body portion l0 against which they bear. In Figure 1 the adhesive is designated by the reference numeral l5 and is shown lying between the flanges l3 and the cylindrical walls of the body It) adjacent its ends. It is apparent that the adhesive may be applied to the interior of the container [0 before the cups H. are inserted or that it may be applied to the flanges I3 before they are inserted within the tubular body. Thermoplastic, thermosetting or other known adhesives may be used so long as they are resistant to the particular material which is to be A fillet may be built.

the discs l2 to assist in bonding the cups H in container and toward each other.

position and to assist in rendering the container as a whole leak-proof in the manner taught in Patents 2,106,738 and 2,173,585. After the cups II have been inserted, inverted cups I6 are applied to the ends of the container. The cups l6 each include a disc I1 and an integral, annular flange [8. While the cups H are inserted with the annular flanges facing toward the erence to Figure 1 it can be seen that adjacent each end of the container the over-all side wall consists of the body wall, the flange I3, and the flange I8. Furthermore, the discs I2 and I1, being spaced apart by the respective flanges I3 and I8, define between them a generally cylindrical air space which materially contributes to the shock resisting properties of the container as a whole. It has been found that resistance to shock is somewhat enhanced if the inner edge of flange I8 is somewhat spaced from the disc I2 so that the cup I6 may function under shock conditions somewhat in the manner of a floating piston.

In Figure 1 the end structure as illustrated involves the use of an adhesive between the flanges I3 and the container wall, while the flanges I8 of foods which require refrigeration, it being apparent that the outer cup may function as an icebox cover in such cases. From the point of view of mechanical strength the form of the invention shown in Figure 2 affords the same advantages as those described above in connection with Figure 1; again there are two spaced discs defining between them a cylindrical air space, and again there are threeside wall laminae of substantial thickness adjacent the ends'of the container. While the disc has been described as of transparent material, it is to be understood that parchment or other translucent or opaque material either rigid or flexible but of adequate mechanical strength may be used in lieu of a transparent plastic. It will be understood that the form of the invention shown in Figure 2 may are frictionally held. In Figure 3, however, there is illustrated an alternative form of the invention in which the flanges I8 are held by an adhesive 1Y9, while the flanges :I 3 are frictionally held. It will be understood that various combinations of the forms shown in Figures 1 and '3 may be usedand that either or both cups 1 I and It may be frictionally held or held by adhesives, and that adhesives may be used at one endof the con.- tainer while a frictional arrangement is used at the other end thereof, the important feature of the construction being that the flanges of the cups face each other and telescope in such a way as to reinforce the ends of the container while the discs define between themselves a :shock absorbing zone or air space.

While inFigure 1 the inner 'eup II is shown as attached by an adhesive to the walls of the containerrand also held by deformation of the ends of those walls, see spun over portions it, :it is apparent that either the adhesive alone or the spun over arrangement alone may be employed. It is contemplated that container liners in the formof thermoplastic films may be used or that thermoplastic films may themselves be used as adhesives.

In Figure 2 there is shown a further modified form of the invention in which the inner disc is of -a transparent plastic material 20 having marginal portions ZI and a separable annular "flange 22-. the margins 2| of the disc 20 and the inner side walls of the body portion '23, and the "annular flange is used to impart rigidity to the marginal portions of .the disc and to receive the spun over portion 24 10f the end of the body portion 2 3. In this 'case, the .outer cup .is jfr'ictionally :held, as shown in Figure 1, and consists of an annular flange 25 and a disc portion 26 integral 'therewith. It is contemplated that the form of the invention shown in Figure 2 will be particularly useful in the packaging of foodstuff since the outer cup,-consisting of disc 26 and its flange 25, can be pried loose from the end of the container and visual access to the contents of the container may be had through the transparent disc :20. Furthermore, after the disc 20 has been punctured and access to the contents of the container has been gained, it is apparent that the outer cup :may be replaced to constitute a temporary closure. This is particularly useful in the case In this case, the adhesive is placed betweenbe used at one end of the container, while at the otherend of the container an end structure such as shown in Figures 1.0r 3 may be employed, or that, if desired, the structure of Figurez can be used at both :ends of .the container. Should thedisc 20 be comprised of a thermoplastic film, it is understood that the marginal portions ofthe film itself may be used to effect a bond between it and the container wall and the flange 25.

While the invention has been described with reference to but a few specific embodiments, iti-is apparent that considerable variation jnrstructure and materials of construction ispossible within th scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A container having'a first closm'ewall within said container but spaced from the rendofsaid container, a .flrst flange extending from said iflrst wall to the end of said container, the end of the container having a portion folded over and .enclosing a part .of said first flange, and :a :second closure wall across said end of th container and lying flush therewith, said second wall having .a second flange extending toward .said first wall and engaging and being complementary :con-

figuration to said folded over portion of said container end and the 'unenc'losed portion of said first flange, said first andsecond :closure walls being of non-metallic flexible material and-spaced to define a shock resistant zone.

2. A container as defined'by iclaim 1 wherein said folded over portion of the end of said cantainer is .adhesive'ly bonded to :saidipart of said firstflange.

.JOHIIK. M. "HARRISON.-

REFERENCES CITED 'The following references are of record in "the file of this patent: V UNITED STATES PATENTS Bergen July 20, 1943' 

